Home win for Reds against Preston Lodge!

Newton Stewart RFC 22 – 14 Preston Lodge RFC
Tennant’s National League Division 2
Saturday 7th March 2020

Newton Stewart RFC took on Preston Lodge RFC last weekend in their latest league fixture. Still wincing from a heavy defeat the previous week and keen to give a better account of themselves against a team they lost 40 – 0 to earlier this season, the Reds went into the match with both determination and focus.
The early play saw Preston Lodge looking to utilise the strong wind which was behind them by kicking the ball deep into Newton Stewart territory. The blustery conditions carried the ball right out of play on a couple of occasions however when the long kick was just a little overdone.
The Reds played some good quick ball when they were in possession, but some handling errors thwarted their early efforts.
Preston Lodge started to take control as the game settled into a rhythm. They used their trademark physicality to push upfield with repeated pick and go’s. There were some excellent low tackles coming in, especially from the McCornick brothers, but when Preston Lodge were awarded a penalty close to the try-line they took their opportunity to bulldoze their way over the line for a converted try.
The Reds struggled to secure possession in the next ten minutes, and it wasn’t long before Preston Lodge were once again back in the danger zone, a penalty for offside having helped secure them some territory.
Newton Stewart made their opponents work hard for their points, tackling heroically, but a second try eventually came in similar fashion to the first and the Reds fell fourteen points behind with only twenty minutes played.
A change in fortunes for the Reds came now, starting with them securing a good turnover. Some sustained pressure saw excellent breaks, including one from fullback Russell Morton. When Mark McCornick burst explosively through the Preston Lodge defence he had young back row Jamie Smith in support and it was the latter who collected the ball to score his first try for the Newton Stewart 1st XVs. Jack Gaw secured the conversion to narrow the gap to 7 – 14.
The Reds were in the ascendency approaching half-time: a chip from stand-off Jack Gaw over the top was collected by Fraser Morton with the tips of his fingers. He raced towards the line for what looked like a certain try, but the covering defences disrupted his grounding of the ball at the last second and it was knocked-on.
After the half-time break Newton Stewart were immediately forced back into defensive mode. Preston Lodge looked to recreate their dominant physical display from their previous game, aiming to outmuscle their smaller opponents. The Reds were stoical in their defence however and gave Preston Lodge no way through, eventually forcing a kick over the top and reclaiming possession for themselves. Russell Morton sent up a long clearance kick for himself to chase, but when he was tackled off the ball Preston Lodge were shown a yellow card.
A line-out just 5-metres out gave Newton Stewart a great platform to attack from now with the extra man advantage. Alan Ferrie secured the ball and a rolling maul was formed which rumbled agonisingly close to the try line before being brought to the ground. As the ball was thrown wide, a Preston Lodge hand deliberately knocked the ball on and a penalty was awarded to the Reds. Gaw’s kick was carried over by the strong wind behind it to make the score 10 – 14 now.
From the restart Newton Stewart were temporarily pinned back in their own half. A huge scrum from the home side gave them another penalty and an opportunity to regain territory. When the ball was punted downfield centre Calum Gaw gave chase and put excellent pressure on the opposition, kicking the ball out of their reach again. Jamie Smith was once again the first man in support and collected the ball to run in his second try. The Reds now went 17-14 ahead with fifteen minutes to play.
Preston Lodge initially looked dangerous from the restart, but scrum-half Robbie McCornick drove their huge second row back 15 metres with a colossal tackle before stripping the ball too. Chipping it over, Jamie Muir collected the ball on the wing and powered forwards before finding Russell Morton on his shoulder in support. Morton collect the pass and ran in another superb try for Newton Stewart which would see the Reds finish out the game 22 – 14 ahead.
This was a fabulous win for the club against a team who out-muscled them in every way in their last meeting. Newton Stewart played brave and intelligent rugby, making the most of the wind in the second half and communicating with each other in a way which was sorely absent last week.
Robbie McCornick was outstanding at scrum-half in this match, his ferocity in defence rivalled only by his brother Mark whose tackle count was vast. David Adams impressed on the wing, displaying some confident decision-making under pressure and Alan Ferrie had some powerful ball carries in the back row.
The Craig Wilson Ltd Man of the Match however was flanker Jamie Smith whose work rate was excellent, earning him two tries as a result.
Next weekend the Reds travel to Edinburgh for their rescheduled match against Stewart’s Melville RFC, kick-off at 1.30pm.
Team: Russell Morton, David Adams, Calum Gaw, Fraser Morton, Jamie Muir, Jack Gaw, Robbie McCornick, Ross Campbell, Thomas MacDonald, Liam Brawls, Mark Craig, James McMiken, Jamie Smith, Mark McCornick (capt), Alan Ferrie. Subs: Ronan McDonald, Martin Wallace, Connal McDonald, Ben Radley.